The Northern California Bluegrass & Beyond Highlights For October 2016

The late Warren Hellman, founder of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.

October closes the outdoor bluegrass season in Northern California and also heralds the start of the indoor shows, so there is plenty to entertain us this month!

The world biggest (and arguably, “Hardliest”) bluegrass festival is right here in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to start the month! Smaller festivals follow in Dixon, El Cerrito, Goleta, Modesto, and elsewhere around the area.

There are two new Bay Area festivals with top local talent — and both are FREE: The Prusch Farm Mountain Music Festival, will be held at Emma Prusch Farm Park in San JoseThe Bluegrass Festival will be held at Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre in San Francisco’s McLaren Park. Enjoy!

The big California Bluegrass Association Fall Campout will return to Lodi this month for a week of informal picking. The Hangtown Music Festival (was the “Hangtown Halloween Ball”) will be held in Placerville.

Meanwhile, the historic 25th Season for the NCBS-welcomed Redwood Bluegrass Associates concert series starts with The Kathy Kallick Band in Mountain View. And there will be NCBS-welcomed bluegrass music Thursdays at the Summit House at the beginning and end of the month, but there will be a short break beginning October 13 for some restaurant upgrades.

CBA Fall Campout

OCTOBER

September 27 October 1 – IBMA World Of Bluegrass, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC.

September 30-October 2 – Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

September 30-October 2 & 7-9 — Austin City Limits Festival, Zilker Park, Austin, TX.

1 — Prusch Farm Mountain Music Festival, Emma Prusch Farm Park, San Jose.

1 — Mild Colonial Boys, San Gregorio General Store, San Gregorio.

1 — Paul Anastasio & Tony Marcus, Gryphon Stringed Instruments, Palo Alto.

1 — The Roustabouts, Barn Theater, Porterville.

1-2 – Dixon Lambtown Festival, Dixon May Fair Grounds, Dixon.

2 — Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association (& Kid Fiddle Workshop), Hoover Middle School, San Jose.

Canyon Johnson at Mission Pizza.
Sidesaddle & Co

3 — Bean Creek, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

3 — The Bearcat Stringband, Amnesia, San Francisco.

4 — Bean Creek, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

4 — Slide Road, Phil’s Fish Market, San Jose.

5 — Sidesaddle & Co, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

5 — Glad To Be Here, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

The Goat Hill Girls
Blue & Lonesome

6 — Blue & Lonesome, Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma.

6 — Goat Hill Girls, Summit Inn, Los Gatos. (NCBS-welcomed)

6 — The Sedgwick Brothers, Atlas Cafe, San Francisco.

7 — Cimmaron Rose Band, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

7 — Redwood Rodeo, Ocean Ale House, San Francisco.

7 — Yosemite Songwriting Retreat, Yosemite Bug Resort, Midpines.

8 — High Country, Austin James Hicks, Cleophus Quealy Beer Company, San Leandro.

8 — Robin Fischer & Julay Brooks, Cato’s Ale House, Oakland.

8 — Harmony Grits, San Gregorio General Store, San Gregorio.

8 — Canyon Johnson, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

8 — Sugar By The Pound, Sherry Austin & Henhouse, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz.

8 — El Cerrito Free Folk Festival, El Cerrito High School, El Cerrito.

8 — Arizona Bluegrass Film Festival & Bluegrass Band Showdown, Cattle Track Theater, Scottsdale, AZ.

8-9 – Heritage Harvest Festival, Historic Hawes Farms, Anderson.

9 — Beer, Brats, Burgers & Bands Festival, La Honda Gardens, La Honda.

9 — Vintage Grass, Cove Cafe, Angel Island.

10 — The Bow Ties, Amnesia, San Francisco.

10 — Courthouse Ramblers, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

11 — Carolina Special, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

11 — Abbott Family Band, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

Phil DiGirolamo, Phil's Fish Market

11 — Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention & Festival, Stow House, Goleta.

12 — Dark Hollow, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

12 — Mr. Banjo & The Lonesome Wailers, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

13 — Blue & Lonesome, Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma.

13 — Mill Creek Ramblers, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

13-16 – Folk Alliance Region West Music Conference, Hyatt Regency, Bellevue, WA.

14 — Vintage Grass, Hopmonk Tavern, Sonoma.

14 — The Crooked Jades, Crooked House Concerts, Auburn.

14 — The Brothers Strong & Co, Risky Biscuits, Nathan Ignacio, Sonora Opera Hall, Sonora.

15 — The Bluegrass Festival, Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre, McLaren Park, San Francisco.

Carolyn Sills Combo

15 — Mill Creek Ramblers, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

15 — The Wail Aways, Crystal Bay Farm, Watsonville.

16 — Montara Mountain Boys, San Gregorio General Store, San Gregorio.

16 — Snap Jackson & The Knock On Wood Players, The Salty Suites, Last Stage West, Atascadero.

16 — Mountain Music Day, Old Schoolhouse, Yucaipa.

17 — Bean Creek, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

17 — Windy Hill, Amnesia, San Francisco.

17-23 – CBA Fall Campout, Grape Festival Fairground, Lodi.

Sam's BBQ

18 — Cabin Fever, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

18 — Dom Flemons & Leyla McCalla, Don Quixote’s, Felton.

18 — Glad To Be Here, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

19 — Sidesaddle & Co, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

19 — Carolyn Sills Combo, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

20 — Mill Creek Ramblers, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

20 — Blue & Lonesome, Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma.

20 — Kathy Kallick Band, House Concert, Larkspur.

20-23 —  Hangtown Music Festival, El Dorado County Fairgrounds, Placerville.

21 — Kathy Kallick Band, The Back Room, Berkeley.

21 — Mill Creek Ramblers, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

21-23 — Logandale Bluegrass Fall Festival, Clark County Fairgrounds, Logandale, NV.

21 — The Mosey Boys, Murphy’s Irish Pub, Sonoma.

22 — Kathy Kallick Band, Redwood Bluegrass Associates, Masonic Hall, Mountain View. (NCBS-welcomed)

22 – Northern California Women’s Music Festival, Gallo Center For The Arts, Modesto.

22 — Loganville, San Gregorio General Store, San Gregorio.

22 — The Susie Glaze New Folk Ensemble With Glenn Houston, McCabe’s Guitar Shop, Santa Monica.

23 — Kathy Kallick Band, House Concert, Folsom.

24 — The Earl Brothers, Amnesia, San Francisco.

24 — Bangers & Grass, Kensington Circus Pub, Kensington.

24 — Courthouse Ramblers, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

25 — Slide Road, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

25 — Glad To Be Here, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

26 — Loganville, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

26 — Trail Rides Band, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

27 — Mill Creek Ramblers, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

27 — Blue & Lonesome, Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma.

28 — The Dim Lights, Pacifica Moose Lodge, Pacifica.

28 — The Stragglyrs, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

28 — The Grateful Bluegrass Boys, Murphy’s Irish Pub, Sonoma.

28 — Black Eyed Susies, Whale City Bakery, Davenport.

28 — Milestone Bluegrass, Kern River Brewing Company, Kernville.

29 — Cygne, Anders & Alison Steele, lille aeske, Boulder Creek.

29 — Beargrass Creek, Mission Pizza, Fremont.

29 — Windy Hill, Max & Duff, Plough & Stars, San Francisco.

29 — The Dim Lights, Cleophus Quealy Beer Company, San Leandro.

31 — The Bernal Hillbillies, Amnesia, San Francisco.

31 — Bean Creek, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

The Kathy Kallick Band

Historic 25th Redwood Bluegrass Associates Concert Season To Begin In October

The historic 25th Redwood Bluegrass Associates Concert Season will begin in October and run through April in Mountain View. All RBA programs since 1995 have been welcomed by the Northern California Bluegrass Society.

The line-up:

October 22, 2016 — Kathy Kallick Band

November 19 — Front Country

January 21, 2017 — Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

February 18 — Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

March 18 — John Reischman & The Jaybirds

April — TBA

Three Bluegrass Film Festivals Set For North Carolina, Arizona & California

Three bluegrass film festivals are set to take place in North Carolina, Arizona, and California. The two new festivals are based on the Northern California Bluegrass Society festival that is held as part of the FREE Bluegrass On Broadway Festival in Redwood City each January.

OCTOBER

September 30-October 1 — 3rd Annual IBMA Bluegrass Film Festival, International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC. The festival is free and open to the public.

10 — 3rd Annual Arizona Bluegrass Film Festival & Bluegrass Band Showdown, Cattle Track Theater, Scottsdale, AZ.

JANUARY 2017

29 — 10th Annual NCBS Bluegrass Film Festival, Redwood City Main Library, Redwood City. Film submissions for the 2017 NCBS Bluegrass Film Festival are due on October 22, 2016.

Summit House To Feature Still Searchin’ On September 29 In Thursday Bluegrass Series

The bluegrass band Still Searchin’ will perform on Thursday, September 29 as part of the Northern California Bluegrass Society-welcomed Thursday Bluegrass Series presented by the Summit House Beer Garden & Grill.

Thursday Bluegrass Series

The FREE show will run 6:00-8:30pm high in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Highway 17. There are great views in every direction.

The Summit House, home of good food and drink, is 6 miles south of Los Gatos at 23123 Santa Cruz Highway.

Robert Cornelius organizes this ongoing weekly music series that brings great music to the top of the world.

NCBS And CBA Represented At International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass This Week In Raleigh NC

NCBS President Michael Hall, the IBMA Bluegrass Film Festival Committee Chair.

California will be well-represented at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World Of Bluegrass this week in Raleigh, NC. Both the California Bluegrass Association and the Northern California Bluegrass Society — and their members — will contribute to the convention and bluegrass festival that will run September 27-October 1. The two Northern California clubs are longtime organizational members of the IBMA.

The Molly Tuttle Band will perform at the IBMA convention.

The CBA is an official sponsor of the gathering and will offer its famed California Hospitality Suite that presents top bands in an intimate showcase setting.

The NCBS Bluegrass Film Festival in Redwood City is the model for the IBMA Bluegrass Film Festival that will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Many California bluegrass musicians and organizers will perform, emcee, lecture, mentor, and network throughout the week. See you where the music is!

Frank Solivan performs in the California Suite at the IBMA World Of Bluegrass.

Two Week Reminder: 2017 Northern California Bluegrass Awards Nominations Are Due October 8, 2016

Two Week Reminder: Nominations for the 2017 Northern California Bluegrass Awards are due on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

Categories: Band, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Fiddle, Dobro, & Bass. The awards honor primarily non-touring Northern California bluegrass bands and musicians. Each person may nominate up to three in each category.

Hard copy nominations are accepted at the NCBS Booth at events or nominations may be made at any time by E-Mail.

Northern California Bluegrass Highlights For The End Of September

The World Of Bluegrass in Raleigh

Due to software upgrade work on the NCBS website several weeks ago, there was no monthly highlights article for September. Other coverage of suggested bluegrass events is being published during the month.

Here are some selected shows coming up for the end of September. Enjoy!

SEPTEMBER 25-30

SUNDAY

Bernal Hillbillies, The Lucky Horseshoe, San Francisco.

Glad To Be Here, Farm Harvest Festival, UC-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz.

MONDAY

The Earl Brothers, Amnesia, San Francisco.

Courthouse Ramblers, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

TUESDAY

Slide Road, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

Glad To Be Here, Phil’s Fish Market, San Jose.

Iris Dement, Freight & Salvage, Berkeley. (Sold out)

TUESDAY-SATURDAY

IBMA World Of Bluegrass, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC.

WEDNESDAY

Trail Rides Band, Phil’s Fish Market, Moss Landing.

Loganville, Sam’s BBQ, San Jose.

THURSDAY

Still Searchin’, Summit House, Los Gatos. (NCBS-welcomed)

Bangers & Grass, Kensington Circus Pub, Kensington.

Willowbrook Ale House

Blue & Lonesome, Willowbrook Ale House, Petaluma.

FRIDAY

Left Coast Country, The Mountain Men Collective, Cool Pistol String Band, Plough & Stars, San Francisco.

Kathy Barwick, Pete Seigfried, Mike Justice & Steve McLane, Acoustic Den Cafe, Roseville.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

Looking Ahead To The 2016 October Bluegrass & Beyond Festivals

The outdoor bluegrass festival season in Northern California ends next month, but some of the year’s best are in October, including the world’s largest bluegrass festival — Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, many Northern California bluegrass bands and fans will head for Raleigh, NC for the international bluegrass convention and music party — the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World Of Bluegrass.

There are many other great festivals and campouts to enjoy, including a new bluegrass festival at Prusch Farm Park in San Jose with many familiar faces.

Join your friends who are Northern California Bluegrass Society Members and catch some festival fun!

Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre, San Francisco
The CBA Fall Campout wil be held in Lodi.

OCTOBER

September 27 October 1 – IBMA World Of Bluegrass, Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC.

September 30-October 2 – Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

September 30-October 2 & 7-9 — Austin City Limits Festival, Zilker Park, Austin, TX.

1 — Prusch Farm Mountain Music Festival, Emma Prusch Farm Park, San Jose.

1-2 – Dixon Lambtown Festival, Dixon May Fair Grounds, Dixon.

7-10 – Yosemite Songwriting Retreat, Yosemite Bug Resort, Midpines.

8 — El Cerrito Free Folk Festival, El Cerrito High School, El Cerrito.

10 — Arizona Bluegrass Film Festival & Bluegrass Band Showdown, Cattle Track Theater, Scottsdale, AZ.

10-11 – Heritage Harvest Festival, Historic Hawes Farms, Anderson.

Formerly, the Hangtown Halloween Ball.

11 — Old Time Fiddlers’ Convention & Festival, Stow House, Goleta.

13-16 – Folk Alliance Region West Music Conference, Hyatt Regency, Bellevue, WA.

15 — The Bluegrass Festival, Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre, McLaren Park, San Francisco.

16 — Mountain Music Day, Old Schoolhouse, Yucaipa.

17-23 – CBA Fall Campout, Grape Festival Fairground, Lodi.

20-23 —  Hangtown Music Festival, El Dorado County Fairgrounds, Placerville.

21-23 — Logandale Bluegrass Fall Festival, Clark County Fairgrounds, Logandale, NV.

22 – Northern California Women’s Music Festival, Gallo Center For The Arts, Modesto.